Satellite-Based Remote Sensing for Assessing Fashion Industry Environmental Footprint and Urban Degradation: A Feasibility Study for Digital Product Passport
Published 30-05-2026
Keywords
- Textile,
- Supply chains,
- Remote sensing,
- Geospatial,
- Environment
How to Cite
Copyright (c) 2026 Jacopo Battisti

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Abstract
This study investigates the pivotal role of geospatial technologies, including Geographic Information Systems, remote sensing, and satellite imagery within the fashion industry. Motivated by regulatory advancements like the EU’s Digital Product Passport, the study
addresses the existing gap in integrating spatial environmental data into product-level transparency frameworks.
The core methodology of this research employs secondary data; this study aims to foresee the integration of remotely tracking both the direct and indirect (latent) environmental impacts of intensive fashion and textile production. Direct impacts assessed for their detectability include water pollution (e.g., color and thermal anomalies), air pollution (e.g., particulate matter and trace gas concentrations), and solid waste accumulation (e.g., landfill expansion and spectral signatures of textile waste). Latent urban degradation elements, such as signs of overcrowding, infrastructural deficiencies, and resource depletion, are also explored for
their spatial detectability within surrounding urban environments. The compilation of existing research, impacts, and detection methodologies into a structured matrix is intended to serve as a foundation for subsequent applied investigations within the domain of fashion production.
Ultimately, this study assesses the suitability and potential of these technologies to enhance environmental monitoring and systemic accountability within the fashion sector. It seeks to lay the groundwork for integrating verifiable geospatial intelligence into sustainability frameworks, including Digital Product Passports, thereby fostering more accountable and data-informed practices at the intersection of industry, environment, and urban systems.
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